Mechanical pencil



April 25, 1950 B.'J. STOLLER I MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Nov. .5, 1948 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,505,488 MECHANICAL rENon.

Ben J. Stoller, Green Bay, Wis.

Application November 5, 1948, Serial No. 58,399

This invention relates to mechanical pencils, the primary object of the invention being to provide a mechanical pencil having means for projecting the lead beyond the writing end of the pencil by simply twisting the fingers which grip the pencil in writing, thereby eliminating the necessity of the person writing with the pencil, lifting the pencil from its writing postion, in order to extend the lead, should the lead become broken or worn beyond use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a projecting and retracting mechanism for the lead of the pencil, the ejecting and retracting mechanism operating to rapidly ejector retract the lead.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for ejecting the lead of the pencil which will, with each movement thereof, eject the lead a predetermined distance. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical pencil wherein the body portion or main barrel tapers towards the eraser end thereof to prevent slipping of the pencil through the fingers while the pencil is being used.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit I the helical guide slot l3so that rotary moveof the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is anelevational view of a mechanical pencil constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of the operating band be-- ing broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the pencil.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the position of the operating band and operating mechanism when the band has been moved to advance or extend the lead beyond the writing end of the barrel. 7

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig.1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view takenon line 1-1 of 5 Claims. (Cl. 120-18) Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the pencil comprises the body portion which is in the form of a barrel 5 having its writing end tapered as at 6, the major portion of the barrel also tapering from the tapered end 6 to the rubber supporting end 1 of the barrel, providing a surface which may be gripped without slipping, during the use of the pencil.

As clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, the body portion is formed with an inner tube 8 supported at one end by means of the end wall 9, while the opposite end of the tube 8 is supported by the partition Hi, the inner tube 8 being spaced from the inner surface of the barrel 5, providing a compartment II for use in supporting refills or replacement lead sections not shown. Mounted within the inner tube 8 is the actuating sleeve I2 which is provided with the helical guide slot l8 which extends throughout the major portion of the length of the actuating sleeve, the lower end of the actuating sleeve terminating at a point adjacent to the extremity of the tapered end portion 6. At one end of the sleeve [2 is the knurled head M which is normally covered by means of the cap l5 that carries the rubber IS, the cap being readily removed from the end of the barrel 5 when it is desired to actuate the sleeve l2 for rapid rotation of the sleeve as when refilling the pencil.

Operating within the sleeve I2 is the tube I! in which the lead is held, the tube l'l being provided with a pin l8 which is disposed within ment of the actuating sleeve l2 will operate to feed the tube I1 and the lead held therein, longitudinally of the inner tube 8 to extend or retract the lead, according to the direction of rotation of the actuating sleeve 12. the actuating sleeve [2, at a point below the partition I0, is the ratchet pinion l9 which is.

engaged by the pawl 20. carried at one end of the bell crank lever 21 which is pivotally mounted on the bracket 22 that extends inwardly from the wall of the body portion or barrel 5, as clearly shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing.

Pivotally connected with one end of the bell crank lever 2| is a flexible wire 23 around which the spring 24 is coiled, one end of the'sprin'g 24 engaging the bell crank lever 2!, while the opposite end thereof rests against the upper edgev of the guide block 25 that extends inwardly -from.the wall of the barrel 5, the guide block.

having an opening through which the wire 23 Secured to operates. The wire 23 also connects with the lug 26 that extends into the barrel, the lug 26 being formed integral with the operating band 21 that is mounted for movement on the barrel 5. The barrel is formed with an elongated circumferential opening 28 and an opening 21;, communicating therewith at one end of the opening 28, through which the lug 26 extends. The opening 29 is disposed at right angles with respect to the opening 28 so that when the lug is moved through the opening 28, the operating band is rotated on the barrel, but when the lug 26 is moved into the opening 29, the operating band is moved longitudinally of the barrel. It will of course be seen'that as the band 2 1 is moved longitudinally of the barrel, the wire 23 is pulled operating the bell crank 1e'ver2l which in turn moves the pawl 20 rotating the :pinion I9 and tube with which it is connected, in a direction to cause the tube I! to be advanced, extending the lead which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character A, beyond the tapered writing end of the barrel.

The reference character 36 indicates a bracket which is supported within the barrel 5 at a point beyond the bracket 2-2, and this bracket 3i] provides a support for the sliding pawl 31 which is provided with the rib 3'2 that-moves in a slot formed in the bracket 30, there being provideda spring 33 disposed within the slot normally engaging the sliding pawl urging the sliding pawl to its inactive position, or the position *as "shown by Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The sliding paw'i'is designed to move to engage the ratchet pinion -3Gas it-moves to compress the spring, thereby rotating the actuating sleeve 12 to which the ratchet pinion 34 is --oonnected, in theopposite direction, to retract the lead into the barrel to guard the lead against being broken while the pencil is carried in the pocket.

The lug 26 is provided with a notch 35 in one side thereof, which notch "is adapted to accommodate the wire 23 directly above the head 36 of the wire 2 3 so that when the operating band 21 is moved longitudinally of the barreL'the wire 23 will be pulled. However, when the band 21 isrotated in the direction of the arrow-as shown byFig. 6 of the drawing, the lug 2e will'di'sen'gage the wire.

The'lug 26 is providedwith-anextension 3 l that is adapted to engage the free end of the sliding pawl 31 to move the sliding pawl against the action'of the coiled spring 33. When the -band is released or returnedto its normal position, it is obvious that the notch in the lug 28 will move to receive -the wire 23 as sho'wnby Fig. '6 of the drawing. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a mechanical pencil, wherein the lead ma be advanced by merelypressing downwardly on the band 21, during the writing or use of the pencil. I

When it is desired to retract the lead after writing, it is only necessary to rotate the band 21 which rotation operates the "pawl 3i and ratchet pinion 34 movingthe actuating sleeve 12 in the opposite direction to retract the lead.

' Having thus described the invention, what *is claimed is:

1. 'In a mechanical pencil, 'a barrel, an'inne'r tube within'the barrel, an actuating sleeve havin a helical guide slot, mounted for rotation within the inner tube, a lead tube movable longitudinally within the actuating tube, a, .pin projecting from 4 said lead tube extending into the helical slot moving the lead tube and lead carried thereby longitudinally of the actuating sleeve as the sleeve is rotated, retracting and advancing the lead, an operating band mounted on the pencil providing a, gripping surface when using the pencil in writing, and operating means operated by rotation of the band for rotating the actuating tube in one direction for retracting the lead tube and lead, and operating means operated by sliding movement of the operating band, rotating the actuating sleeve in the opposite direction for advancing the lead tube and lead beyond the writing end of the barrel.

2. -*a mechanical pencil, a barrel, an inner tube mounted within the barrel, an actuating sleeve having a helical slot, mounted within the inner tube,:a lead tube having a, pin disposed within the slot, movable with the sleeve, spaced ratchet p'inions secured to the actuating sleeve, an operating band mounted for longitudinal sliding movement and rotary movement on the barrel, a pivoted pawloperating means {including 9, wire connecting the pivoted awland operating band whereby the actuating sleeve is rotated in one direction by rotation of the band, a pawl operating the opposite ratchet pinion and means connecting the band and *latter pawl whereby sliding movementof the band, rotates the actuating sleeve in the opposite direction for moving the lead.

3. In -a mechanical pencil, a barrel, an inner tube mounted within the barrel, an actuating sleeve having a helical slot, mounted "for rotary movement within the inner tube, a lead tube slidably mounted within the, actuating sleeve, spaced ratchet pinions having their teeth disposed in opposite directions, secured to the actuating sleeve, 'a pivoted "pawl mounted within the bar-reland-engagi-ng one of the ratchet pinions rotating the sleeve in one direction, a sliding pawl mounted within 'thefbarreI 'engageable with the other ratchet pinion for rotating the "actuating sleeve in the opposite direction, an operating band mounted for rotary and sliding movement'on the barrel, means connecting the operating band with the pivoted pawl and sliding pawl, whereby rotary movement of the band on the barrel operates the sliding pawl, and sliding movement along the "barrel rotates the opposite ratchet pinion rotating the actuating sleeve in the opposite direction moving the lead tube and lead held therein.

4. -I-n*a mechanical pencil, 9, barrel, an inner tube mounted within the barrel, an actuating sleeve having a helical slot mounted for rotary movement within the inner tube, a lead tube slidablelongitu'dinallywithinthe actuatin'gsleeve, a pin extending from the lead tube movable within the helical slot whereby said lead tube is moved longitudinally of the barrel as the actuatin'g sleeve is rotated, *a -knurle'd head formed on the upper end of the actuating sleeve; "whereby said actuating sleeve may be rotated for quick adjustment of the actuating sleeve, an operating band mounted on the barrel adjacent to the writing end of the barrel, means for transmitting rotary movement of the operating band to the actuating sleeve rotating "the sleeve in one direction to retract the lead tube, and means for transmitting slidingmovement'ofthe band'to the actuating sleeve, actuating the sleeve in the opposite direction advancing the lead tube.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, an inner tube mounted within the barrel, 'an actuating sleeve having a helical slot, mounted for rotary movement within the inner tube, a lead tube slidably mounted within the actuating sleeve, a pin extending from the lead tube and disposed within the helical slot whereby rotary movement of the actuating sleeve moves the lead tube longitudinally of the actuating sleeve advancing or retracting the lead carried thereby, an operating band mounted on the barrel, said barrel having a circumferential elongated opening and having an elongated opening'intersecting the circumferential opening at right angles with respect thereto, a lug extending from the operating band and disposed within the circumferential opening, a pivoted pawl disposed within the barrel, a ratchet pinion with which the pawl cooperates, a wire connecting the pawl with the lug whereby sliding movement of the operating band moves the pawl and ratchet pinion rotating the actuating sleeve in one direction, a sliding pawl mounted within the barrel, a ratchet pinion spaced from the first mentioned ratchet pinion and secured to the actuating sleeve, said sliding pawl cooperating with the last mentioned ratchet pinion in rotating the actuating sleeve in the opposite direction, and an extension on the lug of the operating band movable into engagement with the sliding pawl operating the pawl as the operating band is rotated.

BEN J. STOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Weaver Aug. 6, 1940 Number 2,210,825 

